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cnbc.com
U.S. reportedly considers use of 'mother of all bombs' as Iran vows to fight on
The U.S. military has reportedly drawn up options for strikes on Iran that include the potential use of one of the biggest non-nuclear bombs in its arsenal.
theguardian.com
Tech market sell-off deepens amid fears over US inflation and AI debt
Chip makers and tech investors such as Samsung and SoftBank plunge as traders fret over potential interest rate hikesBusiness news – live updatesLarry Elliott: the global economy is muddling through. But a storm is comingAn accelerating sell-off of AI-linked shares has hit global markets, as fears over rising inflation and future interest rate hikes spooked traders already wary of the heavily indebted sector.South Korea’s benchmark Kospi 200 index, which is heavily skewed towards the companies that make memory chips, fell more than 8% overnight to a six-month closing low, triggering circuit breakers that brought trading to a halt at various points. Continue reading...
theguardian.com
Chancellor John Healey says banks are part of ‘jewel in the crown’ of UK economy, amid budget tax speculation – business live
John Healey has spoken to UK journalists at the IMF annual meeting in Bangkok, and said banks are a part of the “jewel” in the UK’s economic crownToday’s better-than-forecast UK growth report is good news for chancellor John Healey as he hobnobs with other finance ministers at the IMF meeting in Bangkok.But it may encourage the Bank of England to raise interest rates as soon as its next meeting in November….“While August’s unexpected uptick all but confirms that the OBR will raise its growth forecast for this year from 1.1% to 1.4%, the Chancellor still faces a major Budget headache, as elevated borrowing costs eat into fiscal headroom and increase pressure for tax rises.“These unexpectedly upbeat figures will further embolden hawkish sentiment among policymakers by reinforcing the view that the economy is strong enough to withstand a rate rise, making a November hike look highly likely.”“The latest GDP figures are encouraging, with the economy growing by 0.7% in the three months to August, its strongest growth rate since May. On its current trajectory, the UK is likely to record growth comfortably above 1% this year, which would probably be enough to make it the second-fastest-growing economy in the G7.“The UK’s growth performance has been a bright spot amid a less impressive run of economic news following events in the Middle East. Business investment has been an important driver, particularly spending on ICT hardware, likely linked to the build-out of AI infrastructure. The UK still lags the US in both the scale of that investment and the boost it provides to growth, but it is making progress and remains ahead of many of its European peers. Continue reading...
cnbc.com
Ukraine to resume strikes on Russian refineries, shattering hopes of an 'energy ceasefire'
Ukraine will now resume attacks on Russian energy targets after Moscow hasn't held up its end of the proposed deal brokered by Trump.
cnbc.com
France is ‘putting the house in order’ and can slash deficit to 3% in three years, central bank governor tells CNBC
France is able to slash its huge budget deficit troubling investors across the globe, according to the head of the country's central bank.
cnbc.com
What to know about Starshield, SpaceX's military-focused Starlink service
Elon Musk distinguished Starshield from Starlink, which he said could not be used for offensive military operations.
theguardian.com
Why are prices so high? Robert Reich answers your questions – Stateside with Kai and Carter
The vast majority of Americans say they are struggling to pay for gas and groceries, and are cutting back on luxuries. But what or who is actually behind these price rises? We asked you to tell us what's gotten too expensive in your own life. Now, Kai Wright and Carter Sherman enlist Guardian columnist and former labor secretary Robert Reich to explain why you’re feeling the pinch. From breaking down the market factors behind the cost of a $16 cheesesteak, to explaining why AI is playing into the price of a Nintendo Switch 2, Reich reveals who you should point the finger at in this economy. Additional music by Epidemic SoundRobert Reich has written this week’s edition of How We Win, a pop-up opinion newsletter with bold ideas for defeating Trumpism. Sign up hereSend us your questions on how the US economy is shaping the US election Continue reading...
bbc.co.uk
Healey says surprise UK growth is 'sign of resilience' ahead of Budget
The economy grew by 0.1% in August, defying analysts' expectations of a slight contraction.
cnbc.com
China indicates rare earths will keep flowing to EU, regardless of U.S. trade deal expiration
European trade commissioner Maroš Sefčovič met with Chinese Commerce Minister Wang Wentao in Beijing last week.
cnbc.com
UK economy grew 0.1% in August, beating expectations
The U.K. is grappling with a cost-of-living crisis sparked by sticky inflation and surging energy costs.
cnbc.com
Nvidia, AMD, Micron fall as AI stock sell-off deepens
A sell-off in global technology hardware stocks deepened Thursday.
cnbc.com
CNBC Daily Open: Who controls the Strait of Hormuz?
The Strait of Hormuz is back in the spotlight after Iran sank a Singapore-registered ship in the area.
cnbc.com
Elon Musk says Trump is 'ultimately' responsible for any curbs on Ukraine's Starshield systems
"Any limits on speed or usage are decided by the US military and ultimately POTUS," Musk wrote.
bbc.co.uk
Anthropic flags revenue surge to investors ahead of stock market debut
It comes as some investors have become concerned about the amount of money being spent on AI infrastructure.
theguardian.com
Wallace & Gromit maker Aardman falls short of return to profit
Animation studio narrows annual loss to £1.1m amid ‘challenging market’ in children’s contentDon’t break out the celebratory Wensleydale just yet. Aardman, the British animation studio behind the cheese-loving inventor Wallace and his beloved dog Gromit, has fallen short of a target to get back in the black, its accounts show.The employee-owned business was aiming to record a small profit in 2025 after two years of consecutive losses but was hit by production delays and a “challenging market” in children’s content. Continue reading...
cnbc.com
Inside India newsletter: Billionaire Ambani’s mega-IPO faces a valuation reality check amid Musk spat
Jio Platforms, the company at the center of Musk’s remarks, is launching an IPO later this month.
cnbc.com
India’s IDBI Bank falls 7% as government announces $5.5 billion stake sale to Canada's Fairfax
The Indian government has been divesting its stake in several state-owned companies this year as it tries to keep its growth engine running amid deepening fiscal pressures.
cnbc.com
From 'Dune' to 'Wicker,' how this ‘tiny’ European country became a hub for Hollywood
Hungary, a small country in central Europe, has played a major part in the movie business since the late 19th century.
theguardian.com
‘I introduce myself to anyone who looks a bit jumpy’: a security guard’s take on anti-shoplifting fixes
A professional reveals the most effective tricks of the trade, from a little bit of empathy to hi-tech camerasI’ve run into volatile thieves for years – from opportunistic phone snatchers to people ripping computers off desks and biofuel bandits trying to steal vats of used cooking oil – and every time I file an incident report, I try to make a recommendation for preventive measures.It’s safer to try to avoid a situation where things get physical with a suspected criminal. I don’t want to let my employers down, but I also don’t want anyone to have to go to hospital – myself included. Continue reading...
theguardian.com
Poland’s ascent from communist state to top 20 economy reverses the brain drain
In the final part of our series on the country, Poles tell how wages have soared – along with the cost of livingWill military spending help or hinder Poland’s growth story?Poland’s push for EU energy resilience amid Russian aggressionAbove the rain-soaked streets of Warsaw, the observation deck of the Varso tower overlooks Joseph Stalin’s gift to Poland that has divided opinion for decades.For some, the Soviet-era Palace of Culture and Science is a drunk confectioner’s nightmare; standing as a relic of oppression that should have been demolished. For others, it is an icon on the skyline and a monumental warning from history. Continue reading...
bbc.co.uk
Thousands of NI workers to get pay bump as Real Living Wage rises
About 6,000 workers in NI are paid the Real Living Wage - which is voluntarily paid to reflect the cost of living.
bbc.co.uk
'I paid thousands to a company for jobs that never came'
Apurv Patel is one of several people who say they were promised job opportunities that did not appear.
theguardian.com
The global economy is muddling through against the odds. But a storm is coming | Larry Elliott
Finance ministers gathering for the IMF annual meeting know the need for multilateral cooperation to deal with many crises. There is little chance of thatNot much has gone right for the global economy this year, and plenty has gone wrong. Two big regional wars are destabilising prices and supply chains everywhere. Businesses and consumers are feeling the effects of a serious energy shock. Rising inflation has made it a lot more expensive for governments to finance their debts. China and the US are at loggerheads over trade.Yet, so far, the impact has been modest. It is something of a miracle that the finance ministers and central bank governors gathered for this year’s annual meeting of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) in Bangkok are not having to deal with a full-blown crisis. This is not like the autumn of 2008, when the meetings took place during the worst of the global banking meltdown.Larry Elliott is a Guardian columnist Continue reading...
cnbc.com
Oil falls as investors assess Mideast tensions, International Energy Agency's report
Oil fell Thursday, as traders assessed attacks on ships passing through Hormuz, while digesting the International Energy Agency's latest monthly report.
cnbc.com
Anthropic's third-quarter revenue is said to hit $16.8 billion ahead of IPO
Anthropic reports third-quarter stands at $16.8 billion ahead of its IPO.
cnbc.com
Meta- and Google-backed Jio Platforms to raise up to $3.2 billion in historic IPO in India
Jio's share sale will be India's largest ever in rupee terms, and second largest in dollar terms, trailing the Hyundai Motors IPO that raised $3.3 billion in 2024.
cnbc.com
CNBC Daily Open: A Singapore ship goes down as Hormuz risks rise
Tensions in the Strait of Hormuz have taken a major step up after a Singapore registered ship was sunk in the critical waterway.
bbc.co.uk
How backlash against data centres could shape the US midterm elections
Democrats and Republicans alike are coming out against data centre development, amid growing backlash across the US.
bbc.co.uk
How a Chinese-made toy gets to a US retailer
With Christmas on the horizon, we trace children's toys from factories in China to US shelves.
bbc.co.uk
How much is the minimum wage?
What are the National Minimum Wage and the National Living Wage, and how much are they worth?
cnbc.com
Traders pile into 'bubble puts' on CoreWeave as neocloud stocks plunge
As a key corner of the artificial intelligence trade takes a beating on Wednesday, traders are betting it could get even worse.
cnbc.com
OpenAI bugging suspect booked one-way ticket to Saudi Arabia with family before arrest
"Like countless Americans, Mr. Alfozan came to this country years ago as a young person with a dream," his criminal defense lawyer said Wednesday.
cnbc.com
OpenAI sued by 8 states over ChatGPT safety concerns
OpenAI is facing mounting scrutiny over its safety and security practices, including around how the company is working to protect children.
cnbc.com
CoreWeave shares tumble as bond yields near 15% on concern about AI borrowing binge
Shares of CoreWeave sank 15%, while yields in its bonds blew out further.
cnbc.com
Container ship sinks in Strait of Hormuz as Iran steps up attacks
Iran has escalated its strikes on commercial ships transiting Hormuz in recent weeks, as it tries to choke off a rebound in crude oil exports.
cnbc.com
Treasury says largest U.S. banks let politics influence who received banking services
New Treasury Department findings may lend weight to President Donald Trump’s long-running grievance that major banks have discriminated against conservatives.
bbc.co.uk
Drop-off charges at UK airports to be reviewed after sharp increase
Confirming the review, the government said it was "vital to ensure travel remains accessible and that passengers are treated fairly".
cnbc.com
Iran says it’s ‘counting the moments’ until it can strike U.S. warships; Saudi Aramco facilities attacked
Meanwhile, Saudi Arabia's Aramco reportedly came under fresh attack overnight.
bbc.co.uk
Netflix to shed 1,000 jobs in steepest cuts since 2022
The cuts equate to around 6% of the streaming giant's total workforce worldwide.
theguardian.com
The UK energy secretary is flirting with a bad idea for bills – the ‘rising block tariff’
There are many reasons to reject this affordability ‘solution’, not least it being complex and fiddly. Just keep things simple‘My mark of failure or success is whether I can get bills down or not. That’s the only thing I’m in this job to do.” So said Miatta Fahnbulleh, the energy secretary, recently, bracing for the hike in energy bills that looks inevitable in January. Industry projections suggest £400-ish on an annual basis is on the way, with “stubbornly high” levels for the rest of decade even if wholesale gas prices cool down.So, yes, one can understand why “affordability” is Fahnbulleh’s “top priority”. And, as this newspaper reported last week, there is likely to be an intervention in that direction in chancellor John Healey’s budget this month: £1bn of extra support for poorer households this winter. Continue reading...
cnbc.com
BlackRock's Larry Fink warns a data center moratorium could trigger a recession
Local opposition to data center construction has been a feature of the midterm elections set for Tuesday, Nov. 3.
theguardian.com
To unlock Britain’s innovation potential, Labour needs to think outside the box | Letters
Kate Fleming says the government must look beyond the models it rewards today, while Jenny Haigh says unlocking potential means recognising that creativity and science are partnersGordon Brown wants Britain to invent, invest in and own the future (British households would be £5,000 richer if we were more innovative. Let’s unleash our talents, 9 October). But invent what, and for whom? His hunt for “lost Einsteins” rests on a narrow vision: a lone genius invents, commercialisation scales, the problem is solved.That may suit a cancer drug, but not the wicked problems of our time – social care, education, climate – which demand not silver bullets but new technologies and practices for collaboration, distributed ownership and collective innovation. Continue reading...
theguardian.com
Palantir and Sadiq Khan drop legal battle over Met contract
Dispute related to claims London mayor blocked US tech firm from £50m police deal because of concerns over its valuesPalantir and the London mayor, Sadiq Khan, have called off their legal fight over claims the Labour mayor was blocking the US tech company from signing a contract with the Metropolitan police because of its values and ethics.Palantir and the mayor’s office for policing and crime (Mopac) announced on Wednesday they had withdrawn allegations against each other, heading off a high court trial scheduled for January. Continue reading...
theguardian.com
Done family took £30m dividend from Betfred before warning of job cuts
Money was withdrawn from gambling firm before founder warned chancellor against doubling machine games dutyThe billionaire Done family took a £30m dividend from their Betfred gambling empire, before warning that they would close hundreds of bookies and cut jobs if the government increases tax on high-street slot machines.The chancellor, John Healey, is understood to be considering proposals to double machine games duty in the upcoming budget, a move that the Social Market Foundation thinktank has said could boost state coffers by up to £460m. Continue reading...
bbc.co.uk
'It's rough out here': Americans struggle with rising inflation
US inflation continues to rise, and this month the jump was above forecasts. Here's how some are surviving.
bbc.co.uk
Toilet paper and secret recorders: What we know about the arrest of the Saudi OpenAI engineer
Abdulrahman Alfozan had worked for the AI giant for more than a year before he was arrested by the FBI.
theguardian.com
Was this Mark Zuckerberg’s first – and last – taste of Guinness?
The Meta boss looked traumatised when he sipped stout on the Cheeky Pint podcast. An hour later, his glass was still half fullName: Guinness.Age: Arthur Guinness began brewing porter in the 1770s. Guinness draft was first poured in 1959. Continue reading...
bbc.co.uk
US inflation rises more than expected - here's what is happening with prices
The pace of price rises increased to 3.7% in the year to September, driving by higher motor fuel costs.
theguardian.com
Netflix to lay off about 1,000 employees in biggest cuts since 2022
Streaming company faces tough competition for viewers and engagement from legacy rivals and YouTubeNetflix is laying off 6% of its workforce, or roughly 1,000 employees, in its biggest cuts since 2022, according to an internal memo seen by Reuters, as the streaming pioneer faces tough competition for viewers from legacy rivals and YouTube.The bulk of the job cuts would be in Netflix’s product, tech, legal and human-resources teams, the email co-CEOs Greg Peters and Ted Sarandos sent to employees on Wednesday showed. Continue reading...
cnbc.com
Netflix to lay off roughly 1,000 employees, or 6% of workforce
Netflix will lay off roughly 6% of its workforce, according to a memo obtained by CNBC.
theguardian.com
English and Welsh water firms could be forced to return £107m via lower bills
Yorkshire and Thames among providers facing penalties for missing performance targets, but bills could rise elsewhereBusiness live – latest updatesThames Water, Yorkshire Water and other providers could be forced to cut tens of millions of pounds from household bills after the regulator said they had missed performance targets.Customer bills at Yorkshire Water could fall by £27 on average, while those at Thames could decrease by £7, according to estimates by Ofwat, the regulator of the privatised industry in England and Wales. Continue reading...
theguardian.com
Merry squishmas: £10 squeezy banana on list of top festive season toys
Social media-driven craze puts ‘squishies’ up there with evergreen favourites such as Lego and Barbie, Hamleys saysA cartoonish banana so addictively squidgy that it is “really difficult to put down” is tipped to be among the must-have toys this Christmas, according to expert buyers at Hamleys.The £10 “slow-rise, squeezable, sensory” fruit taps into the “squishies” craze that is fuelling a high street boom in toy sales. In the coming weeks, Hamleys expects to sell thousands of the Big Squij toys, which come in a variety of food and animal shapes filled with a flour-based compound. Continue reading...
theguardian.com
Closer EU trade ties greater prize for UK than making separate deals, minister says
Exclusive: Douglas Alexander, on trade delegation to India, talks up economic benefits of joint trading arrangements with EuropeBritain will benefit from much closer trading relations with the EU even if that means giving up its ability to negotiate free trade agreements, the Scotland secretary has said.Douglas Alexander helped negotiate deals with India and the US when he was a trade minister under Keir Starmer. Continue reading...
theguardian.com
Excluding UK from ‘Made in Europe’ law will hurt entire EU car industry, Mercedes boss warns
Ola Källenius says it will ‘weaken the industry on both sides’ ahead of act intended to counter non-EU competition Locking the UK out of the EU’s flagship industrial “Made in Europe” legislation would amount to a “deliberate choice” by EU leaders to “hurt” the car industry across the bloc, the head of Mercedes-Benz has said.Speaking in his capacity as president of the European Automobile Manufacturers’ Association (ACEA), Ola Källenius said such a move would “weaken the industry on both sides”. Continue reading...
cnbc.com
Consumer prices rose 3.7% annually in September as gas prices skyrocket
The consumer price index was expected to increase 0.6% in September on a monthly basis and 3.6% from a year ago, according to the Dow Jones consensus forecast.
bbc.co.uk
Driving test waits fall to two-year low - but still average 20 weeks
Learner drivers in September had to wait an average of 19.7 weeks, or around five months, for a practical test.
theguardian.com
Uber begins self-driving robotaxi trial in Manchester
Company hails first step in rolling out technology across UK as first autonomous vehicles take to city’s streetsUber has begun a trial of autonomous vehicles on the streets of Manchester as it looks to bring robotaxis to cities around the UK.The first self-driving cars are operating, using the technology of its partner firms Pony and Verne, with whom Uber recently launched Europe’s first autonomous taxi service in the Croatian capital, Zagreb. Continue reading...
cnbc.com
Delta's business-class revamp: New seats, menus, plates and more Porsches
Delta is upgrading its top-tier Delta One cabin with new suites for its largest o50 plane, starting next year.
bbc.co.uk
Wayfair among firms fined millions for misleading sales tactics
The Competition and Markets Authority has fined Wayfair, Appliances Direct, and Gold's Gym £6m in total.
bbc.co.uk
Civil servant faked illness with make-up to juggle five jobs, court hears
Kashim Chowdhury is accused of fraudulently juggling multiple government jobs while working from home.
theguardian.com
Bank of America fined $1.2bn for money-laundering failures
Third-largest fine in US treasury’s history, due to failure to report suspicious activity, may affect third-quarter earningsBank of America (BAC.N), has been fined $1.21bn by US regulators for widespread failures to detect potential money laundering and other illicit activity, a penalty the bank said will hurt third-quarter earnings.The US treasury department said the fine, the third-largest in department history, is due to the bank’s failure to report more than $5bn in suspicious activity to the government, including $1bn that posed national security-related and other priority illicit finance risks. Continue reading...
bbc.co.uk
Job cuts could fund diesel price drop says deputy
With the ongoing war in the Middle East increasing prices, one deputy is ask for duty to be frozen.
bbc.co.uk
Faisal Islam: What surprise praise for UK economy tells us about the Budget
On three occasions in the past 24 hours, top IMF officials have praised UK plans to reduce its annual levels of borrowing.
theguardian.com
Nvidia, worth $5.5tn, donates $250m to UK for AI safety research
Pledge spanning five years from world’s most valuable firm comes as concerns about AI agents have risenThe $5.5tn (£4.1tn) US chipmaker Nvidia is donating $250m worth of computing power to the UK to support AI safety research.The donation from the world’s most valuable company comes as the UK government confirmed its AI Security Institute (AISI), which tests advance AI models, will be able to examine cutting-edge technology developed by companies such as OpenAI, Anthropic and Google before they are released. Continue reading...
theguardian.com
AI overlords say they want to democratise their technology. Here’s how | Richard Wilson and Clara Long
A fight over a datacentre in Utah has been a testing ground for citizens’ assemblies, paving the way to oversightWhat’s your “(p)doom” – the percentage chance that rogue AI will create an existential catastrophe? Judging by their recent warnings, it is rising among tech bosses.On 25 September, OpenAI paused training of its latest frontier models as reports of AI agents going rogue mounted. A day later, Australia’s Senate asked the bosses of OpenAI and Anthropic to appear before an inquiry after rogue OpenAI agents broke into US government websites and an Australian health portal. Both declined.Richard Wilson is the CEO of Iswe Foundation and Clara Long is the co-executive director of the Bloom Project Continue reading...
theguardian.com
I work for a major insurer. Much of my industry is fudging the numbers in the face of the climate crisis | Anonymous
Insurers are taking on more risk than they should. If – or when – a major disaster hits, the catastrophe will have far-reaching consequencesI work for a major insurer, assessing the risk posed by natural disasters on properties around the world, from family homes to schools, government offices and multibillion-dollar commercial centres. The world is facing greater risk than ever from extreme weather. We are not prepared – and that inaction could have profound consequences for the global financial system.In the face of ever more extreme and unpredictable climate risks, I am coming under pressure to cut my forecasts for the losses that disasters will cause in order to make insurance more affordable – and get my employer more business. In some instances, the questioning of our numbers and models is justified. But too often, it is not being done to produce more accurate models, but to artificially lower prices. If this is happening at my firm, which is struggling to compete with rivals’ prices, it’s happening elsewhere.The writer is a modeller working in the insurance industry. A version of this piece originally appeared with the Bureau of Investigative Journalism as part of their Secret Source series, a regular column featuring industry whistleblowers Continue reading...
theguardian.com
Why are so many Americans forced to work standing up – unlike their president? | Arwa Mahdawi
Airports’ TSA staff have been stripped of their chairs in the name of ‘professionalism’. Most supermarket staff have never had them. Meanwhile, Donald Trump is seated at his desk – and apparently snoozingGreat news for everyone who is soon to fly via a US airport: the Trump administration has just elevated the travel experience. You still risk getting arrested by immigration agents and thrown into a detention centre, but never mind that! Instead, luxuriate in the fact that none of the poorly paid Transportation Security Administration (TSA) staff with whom you interact will be sitting down. The government recently got rid of all the chairs at travel document checking stations, arguing that “maintaining a standing posture helps reinforce professionalism” and strengthens “our security posture and … commitment to hospitality”. Funnily enough, border patrol and customs officers have not adopted the same policy. Perhaps because their job tends to involve being as inhospitable as possible.TSA agents aren’t the only US workers getting sore calf muscles during their shifts. Unlike their European and British counterparts, cashiers at US supermarkets have traditionally been forced to stand while working. The US’s upright obsession seems to be down to a Protestant work ethic and a lack of labour laws. Sitting apparently conveys laziness to the discerning American consumer. Over the years there have been numerous right-to-sit lawsuits pushing back on mandatory standing but, while things are shifting slightly, seated supermarket cashiers are still unusual. One exception is Aldi, which has been expanding aggressively in the US. Cashiers get chairs at Aldi because (surprise) it’s more efficient when your workers’ feet aren’t aching all the time. Continue reading...
theguardian.com
Bank of England and IMF bosses warn of cyber threat to trust in financial system
Kristalina Georgieva says online fraud could lead people to opt out of system and turn to ‘shoeboxes under their bed’The heads of the Bank of England and the International Monetary Fund have issued a stark warning that rising cyber-attacks risk undermining trust in the financial system.Speaking on a panel about online fraud at the IMF and World Bank meetings in Bangkok, the governor of the Bank of England, Andrew Bailey, pointed to alarming headlines about self-replicating AI agents hijacking personal devices, and the French supermarket hack that heated fridges up to 50C. Continue reading...
theguardian.com
Is the modern economic system broken? These urban beekeepers think so – and this is their solution
At Bybi in Copenhagen, a dedicated group of staff and volunteers have built a community for all centred on the production of honey – much of which is given away for nothing. Could it be replicated elsewhere?The bees at Bybi, a collective of beekeepers in Copenhagen, live on the roof. Their home is a complex of Victorian buildings, right in the centre of the city, that looks like an idealised vision of the modern social enterprise, ennobled by the architecture of the past. It’s a place of cottage industry in concert with nature, where the marginalised are brought in from the fringes and corporations stand waiting to help, where jobs happen but a lot of the work is done by volunteers, and where – this bit is important – a lot of time is spent discussing ideas.Oliver Maxwell, Bybi’s 48-year-old founder, encourages me to examine the buildings more closely. They were once a prison, a workhouse and a hospital; their functions today – a homeless shelter, a young offender institution and, until recently, a job centre – are not so different. Denmark’s Victorian transformation, from “agricultural backwater to industrialised agriculture”, was reflected in how they treated people, Maxwell says. Continue reading...
cnbc.com
Scott Bessent's growth plans aren't enough to tame surging deficit and debt pile, IMF chief says
IMF chief Kristalina Georgieva said Bessent’s reliance on growth won’t cut the U.S. deficit and $40 trillion debt fast enough, calling for fiscal consolidation.
bbc.co.uk
'I applied for 200 jobs' - How 'spray and pray' AI job applications can backfire
Graduates are increasingly using AI to misrepresent themselves in job applications, research suggests. But some say their peer group has no choice.
theguardian.com
John Healey ‘targets tax crackdown on online marketplaces’ in first budget
Move aimed at firms such as Amazon and eBay could raise up to £1bn more for Treasury, says reportA tax crackdown on online marketplaces such as Amazon and eBay that could raise up to £1bn more for the Treasury is reportedly being drawn up for John Healey’s first budget.The chancellor is said to be preparing to announce that online marketplaces will be made responsible for collecting tax owed by all retailers selling on their platforms. Continue reading...
bbc.co.uk
Hundreds of Royal Mail staff quitting each week under new efficiency plans
The CWU says more posties are leaving since a new delivery system was brought in that it claims is not working in hundreds of offices.
theguardian.com
Businesses could be barred from non-essential water use amid supply threat
Golf clubs, private schools and car washes may face tighter rules from water companies as England’s drought continuesThree water companies are seeking to impose severe restrictions on businesses as the drought continues across most of England, putting rivers and wildlife under huge pressure.Golf clubs and private schools could be barred from using mains water to irrigate playing fields and courses, and commercial car washes stopped from operating, under “non-essential use bans” being sought by the companies. Continue reading...
theguardian.com
Energy bills through the roof? Five signs your house is leaking heat
From finding draughts to buying a thermal leak detector – there are simple, cost-effective ways to start sorting heat lossHow to storm-proof your home, from roof tiles to garden fencesPick a day when there is a good breeze, and heat the house to its usual temperature. Then wander around with a candle or smoke pen (about £20). Alternatively, buy a thermal leak detector. This flashes blue for cold, green for normal and red for warm. Continue reading...
theguardian.com
Palantir is worming its way into the British state – it’s time to curb this controversial US company’s influence | George Monbiot
Tom Watson has said ‘mob rule’ must not decide public contracts. Perhaps he should take a look at his new employerWhat a world we live in. Imagine: gangs dragging civil servants off commuter trains and beating them up because they handed government data jobs to the wrong contractor – and the government is changing its procurement decisions as a result. Well, OK, it might not have happened yet, but it’s only a matter of time. As the former Labour deputy leader Tom Watson asks: “Do you want to let the rule of law lead procurement practice, or do you want mob rule to lead procurement practices?” No, I absolutely don’t want the latter, and it’s always good to get ahead of trouble.But then I remember there are two common meanings of mob rule. One is intimidation by crowds of thugs. The other is a pejorative term for democracy. And while I’ve yet to see government procurement practices in the UK determined by pitchforks and flaming torches, democratic transparency could be a genuine threat to certain contractors. One might have hoped that Watson, who once took on the Murdoch empire, would have recognised the distinction. But then again, one might have hoped that Watson would not have taken a job as a senior vice-president at Palantir. Continue reading...
bbc.co.uk
Not building third runway would be 'huge missed opportunity', warns Heathrow boss
Thomas Woldbye tells the Today progamme it would be "good to know" the government's position on the project, after comments made by the prime minister.
cnbc.com
Crypto bosses, CEOs and F1: Singapore's business events boom gathers pace
Singapore's Formula 1 race week is a major business draw as a growing number of conferences coincide with the Grand Prix.
cnbc.com
Taiwan agrees to buy 30% of gas from Alaska LNG project, Trump says
U.S. President Donald Trump said Tuesday that Taiwan had agreed to buy 30% of the gas from a pipeline project in Alaska.
bbc.co.uk
Bank of America hit with $1.2bn fine for money laundering failings
The bank inadequately flagged transactions linked to potential Chinese money laundering networks, the Treasury said.
theguardian.com
An eerie trip inside Thailand’s oldest amusement park, deserted after flooding
Siam Amazing Park was forced to close after rising water damaged rides and left parts of the park inaccessibleWith its mouth agape, the giant lion’s head is frozen in a roar. No water rushes down the log flume that descends from its heights, while at ground level, the vast amusement park stands empty of noise and activity except for leaves blowing in a light breeze.Welcome to Siam Amazing Park, billed as the longest-running amusement park in south-east Asia, and certainly in Thailand. Up to a million people rush in every year for thrills on rides like the Boomerang, an orange rollercoaster that loop-the-loops at 80km/h (50mph), or to splash around under the tropical sun in one of the world’s largest wave pools. Continue reading...
bbc.co.uk
How long will humans be needed for translation?
AI dominates the translation business, but for high-stakes work, humans are still needed.
bbc.co.uk
NI company in talks to save Poundland from administration
Poundland says Martin Property Group from Londonderry is the management team's "preferred partner"
theguardian.com
AI godfather Geoffrey Hinton: ‘We’re creating alien beings. I’m willing to be selfish and choose humans’
The pioneering computer scientist on why Trump is using ‘superintelligence’ wrong, whether AI could wipe out humanity – and how our biggest challenge will be accepting we’re not the only intelligent beingsDonald Trump is a “corrupt, senile felon” whose fixation on the term superintelligence proves he knows nothing about AI, said Geoffrey Hinton, “godfather” of the technology, in a wide-ranging interview where he doubled down on recent warnings that AI models pose an existential threat to humanity and scoffed at claims the industry could regulate itself.The pioneering computer scientist, whose work helped lay the foundations of modern AI, has since become one of the technology’s most vocal critics. His latest remarks come after a tumultuous month during which a growing list of senior AI scientists and researchers have joined Hinton in ringing the alarm about how the technology he helped create could ultimately escape human control, sparking an industry crisis, the hasty assembly of congressional meetings and a rare global consensus that something must be done. Continue reading...
theguardian.com
BT charged me for more than a year despite landline being dead
It is billing £32.99 a month but I have had no functioning phone line since it switched me to Digital VoiceI’ve had no landline since May 2025 when BT switched it to Digital Voice. Weeks passed, and each call to BT involved at least an hour waiting on hold and answering security questions before being passed between departments.Eventually, last December, two engineers were sent and discovered that a wire had been severed during the upgrade. They said they needed a cherry picker to reconnect it to its original location and would return. They did not. Continue reading...
theguardian.com
‘People sell their best stuff on Vinted’ – how charity shops became a dumping ground for unsellable clothes
Swamped with ‘daily avalanches’ of soiled items and poor-quality fast fashion, secondhand stores are in crisis. What went wrong with people’s good intentions? And is it possible to donate more effectively?The small stockroom of St Raphael’s Hospice charity shop in Cheam, south London, is rammed with donations. “On average, we get 30 to 50 bags a day,” says Caroline Worley, the commercial manager, “but it’s not unusual to receive over 100.” This might sound like a good problem to have, but the sheer volume of stuff is the shop’s biggest challenge. “Sometimes, there’s only [enough] floor space to tiptoe,” says 48-year-old store manager, Colin French.Rummaging through the donations, it’s clear that much is unsaleable: a smelly, soiled bathrobe, tatty trainers, heavily bobbled jumpers, old socks, an empty Swarovski jewellery case. “Absolutely typical,” says Worley. They’re also overwhelmed with deluges of low-quality fashion – a shift in donation habits that accelerated during Covid, because, says Worley, all that time at home enabled people to sell their best stuff on Vinted. Continue reading...
theguardian.com
Lobbying, lawyers and a media blitz: the fight to kill the Church of England’s £100m slavery compensation fund
Some of Britain’s wealthiest financiers, including Sir Paul Marshall, have given a platform to critical coverage or are linked to its leading opponent“This is virtue signalling,” said Nigel Biggar. “These are elites who are trying to demonstrate that they are being progressive.”The target of his scorn was one that has obsessed him for years: the movement to pay reparations for the slave trade, and specifically the Church of England’s plan to spend £100m atoning for its involvement. Continue reading...
theguardian.com
French supermarket director apologises after cyber-attack spoils fresh and frozen food - video
A cyber-attack caused refrigeration temperatures to soar to 50C overnight on Monday across several hundred French supermarkets, with widespread food losses reported. At Intermarché La Haye, the attack caused fridge temperatures to reach 27C (80F), spoiling fresh and frozen food, according to store director Julien Freret. 'Today, we have a total loss of fresh and frozen,' Freret said, apologising to customers and describing the incident as 'an enormous loss of products'Hackers force French supermarket fridges to heat up to 50C in ‘unprecedented’ cyber-attack Continue reading...
bbc.co.uk
What are your rights on auto-renew subscriptions?
Martin has advice for listeners caught out by auto-renewing subscriptions, explaining what rights consumers have and whether there's a way to challenge the renewal or cancel.
theguardian.com
Huge explosion captured on CCTV after deadly strike hits grocery store in Kharkiv – video
Ukrainian officials said Russian attacks killed six people in two Ukrainian cities on 11 October. In Kharkiv, Ukraine’s second-largest city, a strike on a grocery store killed three people and injured 20 others, including two children, the regional governor, Oleh Syniehubov, said.Footage released by the Kharkiv prosecutor’s office captured the moment of the strike, showing debris flying through the air and fires breaking out as car alarms sounded Continue reading...
theguardian.com
CCTV from inside Riyadh airport shows moment of deadly airstrike – video
CCTV released by Saudi Arabia shows the moment of an attack on King Khalid international airport that killed 13 people and wounded more than 300 on 10 October. Footage shows passengers queueing, making their way through a security gate and sitting in a waiting area moments before the blast, after which people can be seen scrambling to find cover. The missile struck the part of the airport housing terminals 3 and 4 for domestic flights, a regional official said, speaking on condition of anonymity because they were not authorised to speak to the media.It was the deadliest attack on a Gulf country since the Iran war began on 28 February, and came amid an escalation in the conflict in Yemen between the Houthis and Saudi Arabia and the Riyadh-backed Yemeni governmentRiyadh airport hit again after deadly Houthi missile attack, Saudi authorities say Continue reading...
theguardian.com
UK van drivers face extra £2.5bn in diesel costs this year, figures show
Calls for planned fuel duty rise to be scrapped as analysis finds average fuel bill could hit £1,965, up from £1,294Millions of British van drivers face a combined £2.5bn cost to cover the rising price of diesel this year, according to figures, fuelling calls for the government to scrap its planned fuel duty rise.The owners of diesel vans and pickups can expect to collectively spend almost £8.5bn at the pump this year, according to analysis for the Guardian, after diesel prices climbed to record highs due to a global fuel shortage caused by disruption to refineries in the Middle East and Russia. Continue reading...
theguardian.com
Drivers forced to use parking apps can pay up to 40% more
Council car parks have switched away from ticket machines to cut costs, leading to extra fees for usersDrivers are unwittingly paying up to 40% more to park as more councils switch to app-only payments and force customers to pick up the tab.Many councils across England have removed pay and display machines and replaced them with app payments, including a number in London. Most local authorities encourage drivers to pay by app to beat queues, while apps are often the only way to pay when ticket machines are out of order. However, many car park signs fail to mention that app payments may incur an additional service fee. Continue reading...
bbc.co.uk
Money Box
What age will you get your state pension?
bbc.co.uk
Why are there so many sports subscriptions?
Pete Oliver of DAZN explains why the is a growing number of sports subscriptions and why they are getting more expensive.
bbc.co.uk
Why are more roofs not made of solar tiles?
Solar tiles were touted as an attractive alternative to solar panels - why have they not taken off?
bbc.co.uk
How oil-rich Alberta's economy might fare if it broke away from Canada
Albertans vote this month on staying in Canada or moving ahead to a binding independence referendum.
bbc.co.uk
Rainmakers: The drones used to seed clouds
Cloud seeding is gaining attention as countries look to boost rainfall - will drones help?
bbc.co.uk
The AI telling farmers when to harvest
Will farmers want AI tools to help judge when to pick fruit, or is their own intuition enough?
bbc.co.uk
The start-ups hoping to return battery making to the US
Batteries based on sodium-ion technology could be made in the US with locally sourced materials.
bbc.co.uk
My hometown shows that high streets have to change or die
Aberdeen is launching an ambitious bid to revive its struggling centre. Could it offer lessons for other high streets?
bbc.co.uk
Europe's car makers are in crisis. Will the threat of war rescue them?
Auto executives across Europe hope rearmament can help them flex their industrial muscles once more.
bbc.co.uk
X-planes: Are they needed in the new era of drones?
Where do America's X-plane projects fit in an era of cheap drones?
bbc.co.uk
How the oil capital of the US welcomed a solar power boom
Texas is now the country's biggest producer of solar-farmed electricity.
bbc.co.uk
Spain battles climate change on several fronts
A summer of wildfires and heatwaves underlines the threats to the country's economy.
bbc.co.uk
The virtual worlds where robots are trained
Training systems that allow robots to negotiate the real world are getting more sophisticated.
bbc.co.uk
Would you buy branded clothing from your favourite tech firm?
Nvidia, OpenAI and Anthropic are all now selling their own limited edition fashion lines.
bbc.co.uk
Aviation faces hotter, stormier skies – and passengers might have to accept more disruption
Are people going to have to increasingly accept more delays and diversions as the effects of climate change intensify?
bbc.co.uk
Why the UK is dithering over what to do about e-scooters
Why is it taking so long for the government to regulate them, and what are the consequences of delay?
bbc.co.uk
Why Gen Z are planning for life without a state pension
Many younger people do not believe the state pension will exist when they are older
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